May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ …
Summary: As Paul gives us an important pointer about boasting, he also points us to the deeper meanings of the words he used.
The Greek word Paul used for “boast” is kaucháomai (pronounced “kow-khah’-om-ahee”).* I mention the original Greek because it suggests a broader range of meanings than our English word, “boast.”
To quote Strong’s Concordance (Strong’s G2744), the word means “to vaunt (in a good or a bad sense):—(make) boast, glory, joy, rejoice.”
To “vaunt” something is to boast or praise excessively, as in bragging about something or buttering up someone with false praise. This kind of boasting is the kind we humans tend to favor. It can be used to puff us up and make us feel important.
This is the kind of boasting that Paul wants us to avoid when he writes, “may I never boast …”
But Paul is using a double meaning for the word “boast” in this sentence. The first meaning is what we are not supposed to do, which is boasting in ourselves. The second meaning is different. We are to “boast” in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. How does that work?
When we boast in the cross of Jesus, we use the word “boast” in a good way. We rejoice in the forgiveness we receive through Jesus’ blood on the cross. Our joy brings Jesus glory for his faithfulness to his Father’s will.
This brings us to the important question of the day: Is Paul using the word “boast” as a pun?
Technically, the answer could be yes. He certainly uses words with two separate meanings. However, Paul does not use double meaning to get a laugh, so I would have to say that it does not qualify as a pun. (Now, if Paul had been telling a story about a three-legged dog named “Boast,” that would have been different.)
As people who live in temporary tents of flesh (2 Peter 1:13), we are bound to the flesh’s desire to indulge in acts of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). Even when we walk in the Spirit, our steps are dogged by the desires of the flesh. For this reason, we have nothing to boast about on our own merits. The good news is that through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we have everything to boast about (rejoice and glory in) when it comes to our Lord’s work on the cross and his gift of the Holy Spirit.
Application: Humbly rejoice in the Lord!
Food for Thought: What happens to our understanding of this passage if we do not know that there is more than one meaning for the word “boast?”
*”Galatians 6 (NIV) – May I never boast except.” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 1 Sep, 2024. https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/gal/6/14/t_conc_1097014.
I have to admit, it took me reading the meditation a couple of couple times to grasp what you were asking. That my understanding of “boasting” was somewhat watered down. So, reading the passage with the diminished meaning doesn’t really capture the danger of boasting in oneself, or the praise that boasting in the cross brings. So to answer the question, if I didn’t know about the second meaning, I might dismiss the passage as less significant than it is. Boasting meaning only “bragging.” If I use the “vaunt” meaning, it makes the passage way more serious. Vaunting oneself is really belittling God, and vaunting the cross is really giving glory and ALL the glory to God. Like giving to God the greatest of praise one could ever praise to Him and reserving that only for Him.
Chris,
Thanks for taking the time to re-read the article and make up for my shortcomings as a writer! 🙂 Keeping the focus on God is what is important — you are absolutely right.
Well, I dont believe it was the writing, but the reader. 🙂
I think too that vaunt will be a word I remember for a long time. 🙂
You are very kind my friend! 🙂
In this case, the context could still help obtain the meaning, but knowing the full range of meaning of the word plus the context takes out any guess work. Unless you add a three legged dog.
Thanks Rich!
Yep. Knowing, in this case, is better than guessing. Otherwise our understanding kind of goes to the dogs … 🙂
What happens to our understanding of this passage if we do not know that there is more than one meaning for the word “boast?”
All those ruled by their flesh will praise their deeds excessively, brag about and boast to puff themselves up and make themselves appear important to those around them.
Believers will increasingly praise God for His Great Works in their lives as each lives dieing to self, growing in Christ, submitting to His Lordship as these bodies become containers for His Spirit, His power to live according to the will of God as He ministers to those around us. We each have a front row seat as we grow in faith, walk away from many miracles knowing God is in total control.
Jeremiah 9:23-24, Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
Galatians 6:13-15, Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; WHAT COUNTS IS THE NEW CREATION.
Thank you, Ron!
I appreciate you pointing us to the “flesh” as the source of boasting in ourselves. It is the NEW CREATION that desires to boast in the cross of Jesus.
When it comes to testing ourselves to see where we are, this is another great test! We can ask ourselves what we are boasting about and why!
Exactly! The Holy will test our thoughts and deeds, give each their feedback, and the power to change as convicted. Our choice!
Ron